One of the best-known roadside sights in Oklahoma is Pops 66 in Arcadia, rising above the grassland along historic Route 66. A quick search for “Route 66 Oklahoma” proves it. Pops is consistently one of the first images that appears, cementing its status as a modern icon of the Mother Road. The Restaurant has grown quickly in popularity as…
Oklahoma’s iconic business, Eskimo Joe’s from Stillwater, shook the market with its hilarious t-shirt designs dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which is celebrated in 2026. The history of Eskimo Joe’s is remarkable. In 1975, Oklahoma resident Stan Clark opened a bar, which evolved into a multimillion-dollar “full-service restaurant and clothing line that has…
Route 66, otherwise known as U. S. Highway 66, is something more than a strip of asphalt. It is a cultural icon ingrained in the American narrative. Conceived in the early years of the 20th century, this fabled road connected Chicago to Santa Monica and symbolized movement, the American Dream, and the vast extent of…
Where the movies are played, nostalgic memories have been made on Route 66 at the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The theater is known to be a legendary part of Route 66, holding American sentimentality and a piece of history on the Mother Road. For a little over 74 years, Admiral Twin has allowed people to go back in time, smell popcorn, hear the…
As you cruise down the Mother Road, the vintage neon sign of the Rock Cafe illuminates the feeling of the classic American road trip. Located in Stroud, Okla., this historic restaurant has been around since 1939. Originally built by Roy Rives, the owner of H&P Service Station, and other members of the Stroud community, the…
Along historic Route 66, in the small Oklahoma town of Arcadia, lies one of the most photographed buildings on the highway. The Round Barn of Arcadia has become a must-visit opportunity for travelers from all over the world. On a recent afternoon in October, a couple from Belgium stopped into the barn. They came in…
The audience clapped and cheered, and Wes Studi smiled as he watched from his seat. He watched as Tulsa Community College students and faculty unveiled a six-by-five-foot portrait of his face. The artwork depicted his 2019 Academy Award win. It was the moment he became the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award. This unveiling was the climax of a multi-semester project. The project’s goal…
The Outsiders Museum, located in Tulsa Okla., is a very popular tourist attraction along Route 66. The house was bought by hip-hop artist, Danny Boy O’Connor, who is a big fan of the book and movie. On Aug. 9, 2019, the museum officially opened with actor C. Thomas Howell in attendance. The Experience I visited…
The fountain at Swan Lake Park, silent for nearly a quarter-century, is operational once more following a $2.2 million city-funded restoration completed in late 2024. The historic Swan Lake district is located between 15th Street to the north, Utica Street to the east, 21st Street to the south, and Peoria Avenue to the west. The…
In the previous article on Art Deco, I was diving into the depths of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the sophisticated art style. Those events have spread from Europe to North America, where Art Deco was a dominating trend in the 1920s-1960s. Tulsa has a lot to offer art admirers interested in Art Deco. One…
